Marco Rubio Spent $1.2 Million on Military Flights for Son's Games
Secretary of State Marco Rubio used over $1.2 million in taxpayer funds for military flights to attend his son's college football games in Florida.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent more than $1.2 million in taxpayer funds on military aircraft for frequent trips to Gainesville, Florida, to watch his son play football for the University of Florida. A Washington Post investigation found that of 23 trips to the city, 15 were personal, including five during the current fall season.
Assistant Secretary of State Dylan Johnson defended the travel, stating that the Secretary of State is required to use military transport to maintain secure communications and comply with continuity of government protocols. Johnson noted that Rubio will reimburse the government for the equivalent of economy-fare tickets for all personal travel.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington questioned the volume of travel compared to previous secretaries. The report also noted that Rubio had previously demanded an ethics review into former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for similar use of government jets.
